It’s the “return of the jumps” at Navan on Saturday, and we have a selection in each of the eight races on the card.
Navan Tips
- 13:07 Dallas Star
- 13:42 Hopeful Hero
- 14:17 Red Acres Georgie
- 14:52 Pure Logic
- 15:26 Goin’
- 16:02 Emerald Enigma
- 16:35 Knocknagoran Lady
- 17:12 El Paraiso
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13:07 2m (1m7f165y) BAR 1 Betting “Download Our App” Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
All eyes will be on DALLAS STAR, who makes his hurdling debut for Emmet Mullins in the AMO purple. He is rated 97 on the level and will take a world of beating should be jump with enough efficiency. The last time he ran at Navan, he finished second to Scandinavia in the BAR 1 Betting Vintage Crop Stakes, and that just showed the standard he ran to on the level. He has been slightly below par since but has been kept in good company and you would expect him to get off the mark here.
Selection: Dallas Star
13:42 2m (1m7f165y) SIS, Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
Tom Hogan’s runner HOPEFUL HERO won a shade cosily at Bellewstown four starts back in the hands of Alan O’Sullivan off a mark of 104 and has maintained that form of late with a third at Down Royal and a second at Killarney last time off a mark of 110. The handicapper has pushed him up to a mark of 113 but with Alan back aboard and claiming a valuable five he should be involved at the business end.
Selection: Hopeful Hero
14:17 2m3f BAR 1 Casino “Slot Games & Live Casino” Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
This doesn’t look the strongest race in terms of form on the card, and a chance is taken with RED ACRES GEORGIE to come back to form following a fall at Bellewstown last time out. She started 10/3 on that occasion, which showed market confidence behind her, and she was a close seventh when she fell at the 7th. She was a fourteen-length point-to-point winner at Ballindenisk back in May 2024, suggesting the ability is there, and she will be looking to show it here.
Selection: Red Acres Georgie
14:52 2m3f Millbrook Food Group 100 Years Celebration Handicap Hurdle (Div I) (4yo+ 0-100)
PURE LOGIC stepped up on a third-place finish at Tramore to win at Killarney on her next start, and the top weight looks to have a chance of backing that up here. Paddy Hanlon will take a valuable five pounds off her back, and after the victory at Killarney, “Shark” described her as a “right mare,” so there is no reason why she couldn’t follow up here from effectively a pound higher mark. Paddy was only able to claim two the last day, and he will claim five here.
Selection: Pure Logic
15:26 2m3f Millbrook Food Group 100 Years Celebration Handicap Hurdle (Div II) (4yo+ 0-100)
The Galway Hurdle winning duo of Tony Martin and Daniel King will team up with GOIN, and based on the last run at Bellewstown, this gelding should be going very close here. The handicapper has given him a chance too by only raising him two pounds for a third-placed finish beaten a half a length and a neck. He travelled very strongly through the race and, even though the front two showed more close home, he still finished his race out very strongly. He drops back a furlong in trip, and the stiff finish at Navan should be perfect.
Selection: Goin’
16:02 2m5f Meath Farm Machinery Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
Willie Mullins & Paul Townend have just one runner on the card, and that can be considered a tip in itself. EMERALD EMIGMA made hard work of a couple of victories in bumpers, and the hurdling debut lacked jumping fluency. At the first, the front legs got safely over, but her backside ended up in the back of the hurdle, and that may just have shaken her a little. She jumped the hurdles up the straight much better, and on the turn for home she loomed up travelling strongly. She flattened out a little up the straight, suggesting she will have learnt plenty and you would expect her to go close here.
Selection: Emerald Enigma
16:35 2m5f Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Ladies Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
The booking of Anna McGuinness for the Cian Hughes-trained KNOCKNAGORAN LADY is interesting here, considering the mare is in top form at the moment. She has won three of her last four starts and finished fourth on the other occasion. She started the winning sequence off a mark of 81 and is nearly two stone higher in the weights off a mark of 107. After the victory last time, connections had mentioned that she might be even better over a fence, but they are staying over hurdles, and she should be involved with luck in running.
Selection: Knocknagoran Lady
17:12 2m (1m7f165y) BAR 1 Betting “Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight” INH Flat Race (4yo)
The famous Kenneth Alexander colours carried by Honeysuckle will be on show here with the Henry De Bromhead-trained EL PARAISO. John Gleeson will be in the saddle for this gelding’s debut, and he looks a very interesting runner. He is out of a dam called Edene D’Arc, who is a half-sister to Ball D’Arc and Riaan. Ball d’Arc won on debut in a bumper at Thurles in November 2015, while it took Riaan five starts to get off the mark. The pedigree for El Paraiso suggests a solid run, but the market will likely tell us plenty.
Selection: El Paraiso
Navan Tips
- 13:07 Dallas Star
- 13:42 Hopeful Hero
- 14:17 Red Acres Georgie
- 14:52 Pure Logic
- 15:26 Goin’
- 16:02 Emerald Enigma
- 16:35 Knocknagoran Lady
- 17:12 El Paraiso
More Horse Racing Tips
HORSE RACING TIPS: Seven picks for the card at Dundalk on Friday.
